2016 Annual Report

FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER’S MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Family Resource Center is to strengthen families

and the community by keeping children and dependent adults safe

and nurtured, thereby preventing abuse and neglect.

The Vision

The organization will strive to design and implement ongoing programs which motivate, educate, and assist program

participants to attain goals of self-sufficiency and maximum independence while integrating community support.

Volunteers Make it Happen!

Volunteers have served the FamilyResourceCenter in a multitude of ways during

the past 36 years. In fact, the agency was founded by volunteers and

has never stopped needing or utilizing their help.

When everyone does a little, it adds up to a lot.

You can help make our community stronger and safer for children by giving

of your time, talent, and treasure in the following ways:

  • Serve as board members;
  • help families in need at Christmas;
  • volunteer to help at the Fall Affair (FRC’s only annual fundraising event);
  • provide essentials for the Client Needs Closet; and
  • donate funding for client needs to pay for basics, such as gas cards.

2016Board of Directors

Mike Bach, President Beth Glynn, Member

Fran Satterlee, Vice PresidentPat Macke, Member

Lenny Daniel, Treasurer Eric Neu, Member

Thetia Hall-Polking, Secretary Pastor Julie Schaal, Member

Kevin Brincks, MemberDr. Mike Soppe, Member

Stacy Boyer, Member

THE CLOSET AND CHRISTMAS FOR NEEDY FAMILIES

CLIENT NEEDS CLOSET

The FamilyResourceCenter recognized the need for a place in the community to provide necessities for families in need. A frequent barrier to personal hygiene for the families being helped was the cost of necessary items, which were not in their budget when forced to choose between food for their families or toothpaste and laundry soap. The following list was born out ofawareness of this need.

These are items that we consider necessities and take for granted on a daily basis.

Many families who come to the Family Resource Center do not have the funds to

purchase these necessities:

CHRISTMAS FOR FAMILIES IN NEED

Every year in late fall, families begin to anticipate their holiday budgets and some realize there won’t be enough money to buy presents for under the tree, or a festive holiday dinner, and barely enough to handle the extra food needs while children are on school break. The Family Resource Center endeavors to help children of parents who struggle. The biggest wish of these children at Christmastime is just to “fit in” and have something to unwrap and share stories about with their friends. They’re embarassed as their friends return from vacation with new boots, hats, clothes, coats, games, DVDs, or toys. Through the generosity of strangers and friends (“angels”) who “adopt” a family, the agency is able to match angels with families in need. Somehow it all works out with help from local foundations, civic groups, and others. We are proud to collaborate with these groups so that no child has to learn the painful lessons about doing without the things most of us take for granted. Reality shows and Christmas stories don’t teach children about poverty, but the ones living in it already know it exists. This special assistance for families at Christmas teaches these children that there are always good people who want to help their neighbors and friends.

HISTORY OF FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER

Family Resource Center’s Waiver Program

Individuals who have mental or physical disabilities live in every community in Iowa. There are huge barriers for people with disabilities to live in the home as they wish – a basic right. Using funding through Home and Community Based Services, Family Resource Center supports the individuals who have waived their entitlement to institutional care. The coordinators train and match service providers to each person with special needs. The providers may offer one or more of the following services to help the person be successful. The coordinators and providers plan activities based on each person’s needs and choices:

  • Respite - The main caregivers are revitalized while taking a break from caring for their disabled family member. The provider may care for the child or adult after school, during the weekend or for the whole weekend.
  • Comprehensive Community Supports (CCS) & Home Based Habilitation (HAB) - The person with disabilites and the provider work together on goals that promote independence. The goals may be personal hygiene, money management, social skills, or meal planning.
  • Daily Supported Community Living(SCL)is offered in 17 waiver homes to adults with developmental disabilites. Employees support the individuals from 18 to 24 hours a day.
  • Consumer Directed Attendant Care (CDAC) - The provider completes tasks that the person with special needs is no longer able to do for themselves. The tasks may be transportation, housekeeping, or dressing.
  • Interim Medical Monitoring and Treatment (IMMT)- The provider monitors and assesses the person’s medical condition, and carries out interventions when needed.

In fiscal year 2016,Family Resource Center provided 125,647 of services to 324consumers, with 165 service providers carrying out those services. There are 50employees who provide direct support in the waiver homes.

Each person deserves the respect and dignity of choice, regardless of whether the disability is the result of a brain injury, developmental delays, mental health issues, physical limitations, or aging. With the support of Family Resource Center, the citizens who have special needs now have choices and hope in their own communities.

Partnerships4 FamiliesBuilding Families

The Family Resource Center’s Child Care Project is improving the quality of early learning environments and promoting school readiness in 7 counties in West-Central Iowa. The Partnerships 4 Families covers Carroll, Audubon, Greene, and Guthrie Counties, and Building Families provides for the counties of Hamilton, Humboldt and Wright. Each of the areas is funded by local Early Childhood Iowa area grants, and is performing similar tasks with common goals.

Each area is staffed with an Early Childhood Advisor to produce measureable outcomes with more children being developmentally stimulated to enjoy the experience of learning. This will return dividends to the children and their communities their entire lives. The Advisors will offer coaching to early child care preschools and center staff regarding behavior issues. The Advisors are certified in playground safety and offers assistance in improving playground environments. Face-to-face visits are made to preschools, and centers in both areas. Over 1,260children attend those centers and preschools and are being better served because of program goals being met by preschools and centers who are working with our agency.

Common goals of Early Childhood Advisorsinclude:

  • Providing age and developmentally-appropriate information and support;
  • working with Department of Human Services (DHS) to assist centers in meeting

licensingguidelines;

  • modeling and supporting developmentally appropriate practices to ensure positive adult-child interaction and learning experiences that promote school readiness;
  • promoting professionalism through basic “best practices” training and ongoing technical support;
  • serving not only as a resource for early childhood educators and community human service organizations, but as a liaison between them;
  • working with centers and preschools to establish and maintain safe, stimulating and nurturing learning environments;
  • connecting early child care professionals with each other to develop an

infrastructure and support system;

  • implementing the Iowa Quality Preschool Program Standards (IQPPS);
  • providing technical assistance and on-site visits to center staff and preschool teachers on improving the quality of their outdoor play area using the SAFE model;
  • providing fingerprinting services to center staff and preschool teachers as needed;
  • providing center staff and preschools with resources to share with parents regarding policies, child development, health and safety, etc.;
  • addressing the needs for professional development; and,
  • providing on-site visits assisting the implementation of strategies taught in

Positive Behavior Intervention and supports (PBIS) and other professional

development opportunities

FAMILY DEVELOPMENT & SELF- SUFFICIENCY

The mission of the FaDSS program is to “improve the lives of families at risk of long-term welfare dependency or family instability by creating opportunities for self-sufficiency.” The foundation of FaDSS is regular home visits with families using a strength-based approach including core services such as support, goal setting and assessment.

In fiscal year 2016, the Family Resource Center FaDSS Specialist served 42families who had faced known or suspected issues as recorded below:

  • 31.0% are past victims of domestic violence
  • 19.0% are adult survivors who suffered physical or emotional abuse/neglect as a child
  • 28.6% have a child with special needs
  • 40.5% have a history of past substance abuse
  • 42.5% have a child in the home who is a survivor of physical/emotional abuse
  • 40.5% have a record of incarceration
  • 28.6% are a past child abuser/neglector

CRISIS CHILD CARE PROGRAM

Crisis Child Care Nursery provides free, short-term care to children whose parents are experiencing a crisis or emergency in their lives and lack adequate child care for their children. In fiscal year 2016, the Family Resource Center provided 76 children with 4,043hours of care, serving 36families during a time of crisis.

Crisis nurseries offer:

  • a temporary, safe environment for children;
  • access to services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through a pager system;
  • child care for up to 72 hours at a time; and,
  • support and resources for families.

PARENT-TIME-OUT

Parents occasionally need a “time-out” from the challenges of parenting to just take a walk, fix supper, go to the grocery store or to an appointment. In fiscal year 2013, the Family Resource Center served 131 families, providing 5,106 hours of Parent Time Out for 319children in a safe and nurturing environment.

Parent-Time-Out offers parents:

  • a temporary break from caregiving responsibilities;
  • a safe environment in registered child care homes or licensed centers;
  • child care at no cost to the parent; and,
  • child care for up to 4 hours per month per child.

SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION(STEWARDS OF (CHILDREN)

Stewards of Children is the only national program statistically shown to increase knowledge, improve attitudes, and positvely change protective behaviors. This program was created as a training program for the staff and volunteers of schools and youth serving organizations. adults were trained in. Stewards of Children is also an appropriate and vital curriculum for any responsible adult who cares about children.

  • an evidence-informed, proactive approach to child sexual abuse prevention;
  • a 2-hour training program featuring a combination of survivor stories, expert

advice, and practical guidance; and,

  • a program that offers simple, effective strategies for protecting children from

abuse.